Common Causes for Omaha Slip, Trip, and Falls

By Omaha Personal Injury Attorney on May 19, 2016

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after car accidents, slips, trips, and falls are the leading cause for injury in the nation. They are a common fact of life in our modern world and can happen anytime, anywhere.

Consider this:

Recently, a 40-year-old man slipped on an unknown substance on the aisle floor in a grocery store in Omaha. The case went to court, where both the man and his wife testified that, as a result of the sustained injuries, the man had been experiencing acute physical pain, significant weight gain, and severe depression. Friends, family, and coworkers all testified to the change in the man’s psychological well-being. He was distant, sad, and abusing alcohol and pain medication – all of which were out of character of the man they knew. The case was settled out of court, and the man gradually got his life back, but he was never 100% the same as he was before.

We’ve all experienced that momentary loss of balance that can be shocking, and can often have a benign result. But of course, the accidental slip or trip can lead to a fall that can have disastrous and even life-changing results.

Causes of Omaha Slip, Trip, and Falls

While it may seem to be conventional wisdom, it’s important to highlight the most common causes of slips:
• Surfaces that are wet, or greasy
• Accidental spills of unknown liquids
• Weather (such as rain causing puddles or slick surfaces; or ice, particularly ice that is transparent and seemingly invisible)
• Carpets, rugs, mats that are unsecured
• Surfaces where the terrain varies and changes the degree of friction, such as a sidewalk

A trip occurs when you miss a step or your foot strikes an unseen object. Though a slip doesn’t always lead to a fall, a trip almost certainly does. Some common causes of tripping are:

• Your vision is blocked
• Too dark or too bright lighting conditions
• Disorganized home or work area with too much clutter
• Folds in the rug or carpeting
• Cables that are not properly taped down or stowed away
• Children’s toys or pets’ toys that seem to appear out of nowhere
• An unseen change in the level of the walking surface, such as going from sidewalk to curb to street level

Contact Us Today

If you have experienced such an injury, you may be entitled to compensation. To get the settlement you deserve, you’ll need the representation of an experienced Omaha personal injury attorney. We’re here to help. Contact Cullan & Cullan LLC to discuss your case. You can reach us at (402) 397-7600.

Disclaimer: The legal information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee. Please contact a lawyer for a consultation on your particular legal matter. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the state of Nebraska.